Food prescriptions to help youth with type 1 diabetes eat well
Official title: A PILOT AND FEASIBILITY EVALUATION OF FOOD PRESCRIPTION TO ADDRESS FOOD INSECURITY AMONG YOUTH WITH TYPE 1 DIABETES
Funded at Baylor College of Medicine · NIH-11359673 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A pilot program will test giving healthy foods through a community partnership to families of kids with type 1 diabetes who don’t have reliable access to food.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Baylor College of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | June 20, 2025 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $320,964 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK140212-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11359673 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children aged 10-15 with type 1 diabetes from food-insecure households and their families.
✕Less likely to help
Families without food insecurity or those not participating in the Food Rx program may see limited or no benefit.
What this research studies
This project partners a children’s diabetes center with a local food bank to offer Food Rx and a healthy eating program delivered by community health workers to families of youths aged 10–15 with type 1 diabetes who experience food insecurity. It aims to measure feasibility and early outcomes in real-world clinic and community settings over two phases. The approach focuses on improving diet quality and diabetes-related outcomes while considering family routines and barriers to healthy eating. Results from this pilot could guide larger studies and help define how food access interventions fit into pediatric diabetes care.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, families may experience better access to healthy foods and improved diabetes management for their children.
How similar studies have gone: Prior adult studies showed improved glycemic outcomes with Food Rx and healthy eating interventions in type 2 diabetes; this study explores applicability to youth with type 1 diabetes.
Where this research is happening
-
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Butler, Ashley M — Baylor College of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Butler, Ashley M
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Using food prescriptions to help youth with type 1 diabetes facing food insecurity
This study is looking at how providing healthy food options and support can help kids aged 10-15 with type 1 diabetes who don’t always have enough to eat, aiming to improve their eating habits and overall health.
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A UK study tests two different approaches to help adults with type 1 diabetes recognize and respond to low blood sugar by comparing a high-tech insulin system with targeted education.
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Researchers are studying how the surrounding tissue of the pancreas and its proteins influence insulin-producing cells in people with type 1 diabetes.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.